Crimea Sanctions: Europe Should Impose Stiffer Penalties [View all]

[unhappycamper]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/commentary-time-for-more-painful-eu-sanctions-on-russia-a-959342.html



Germany has said it wants to take on greater responsibility in foreign policy -- and the Crimea crisis offers a golden opportunity to do so. Berlin should impose tougher penalties against Russia, even if it would hurt the German economy.

Crimea Sanctions: Europe Should Impose Stiffer Penalties
A Commentary by David Böcking
March 18, 2014 – 12:25 PM

"Freedom isn't free." This bit of wisdom is one that American patriots are fond of slapping onto their back bumpers. But there is something to it. The fight for political convictions always comes with a price. Yet it appears to be one that German managers and corporate leaders are uninterested in paying.

E.on head Johannes Teyssen warned against endangering "very responsible policies toward the East" in an interview with SPIEGELthis week. Rainer Lindner, head of Germany's Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, fears that "sanctions will certainly trigger counter-sanctions" -- as if effective penalties could ever be free of charge.

The concerns expressed by Germany's business community are understandable. But the government in Berlin should ignore them just the same. In addition to the travel bans and frozen accounts already imposed by the EU -- punitive actions that are essentially symbolic in nature -- Europe should also levy more significant economic sanctions against Russia. It is a question of credibility. Not doing so is tantamount to Germany and the EU saying: "You know what Mr. Putin? The Crimea isn't actually that important to us after all."

Led by German President Joachim Gauck, Berlin only recently demanded that the country take on more responsibility in the world. Chancellor Angela Merkel made clear early on that military intervention in the Crimea crisis isn't an option. That makes sense. But what other alternatives could Europe pursue?